Electric Eel

Electric eels aren’t true eels at all—they belong to the knifefish family and inhabit the murky waters of the Amazon basin. There are three recognized species: Electrophorus electricus, Electrophorus voltai, and Electrophorus varii, each contributing to the mystery and allure of these remarkable creatures.

Among them, Electrophorus electricus is particularly notable for its size, growing up to eight feet long (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute). As their name suggests, electric eels are capable of producing significant electric discharges. Their power comes from specialized cells known as electrocytes, which are stacked to amplify voltage. In fact, Electrophorus voltai can generate shocks of up to 860 volts (FAPESP, 2019). This incredible natural mechanism even inspired scientist Alessandro Volta in developing the first battery an early and impressive example of biomimicry (Chetan-Welsh).

Electric eels use weak electric pulses to communicate, while stronger discharges serve to stun prey and deter predators (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute). Living in oxygen-poor, murky waters, they have evolved to breathe air and must surface periodically. Their environment has also driven the development of sensitive, hair-like receptors that detect movement in dark waters (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute).  Remarkably, there have even been rare observations of these eels hunting in packs, adding another layer to their captivating behavior (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute).

From their impressive size and potent electric shocks to their unique behaviors and adaptations, electric eels continue to amaze scientists and nature enthusiasts alike.

References:

Electric Eel Electrophorus electricus. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/electric-eel

FAPESP. (September 10, 2019) A new species of electric eel produces the highest voltage discharge of any known animal PHYS.ORG

https://phys.org/news/2019-09-species-electric-eel-highest-voltage.html

Chetan-Welsh, Holly. How electric eels work? Natural History Museum

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-do-electric-eels-work.html

Moutinho, Sofia. (January 14, 2021) Shocking discovery: Electric eels hunt in packs in Amazon rivers Social predation spotted for the first time among these animals Science

https://www.science.org/content/article/shocking-discovery-electric-eels-hunt-packs-amazon-rivers-2#:~:text=When%20darkness%20comes%2C%20electric%20eels,and%20some%20species%20of%20tuna.